Chapter 135

Su Hua hadn’t even ordered yet, but she had already paid for everyone’s meals in the restaurant.

Lin Yan: “…”

“Miss Gu, do you always like to treat everyone in the restaurant when you come here to eat?”

Su Hua glared at him.

“What? Is that a problem? I’m rich and willful!”

Even though she paid for the entire restaurant’s bill, Su Hua didn’t stay to eat with Lin Yan.

Instead, she headed to a nearby shopping district to meet Lu Yunche.

“Have you been waiting long?”

Su Hua shook her head.

“Not at all.”

Although Lu Yunche had taken a hands-off approach to running the business, he was still busy.

Combined with his acting career, he was now even busier than before.

Su Hua felt like she had dug herself a hole.

“Let’s go.”

Su Hua hooked her arm around his.

“My dad likes tea. The tea leaves you mentioned having your friend bring—have they arrived?”

“They have. They’re in the car. What does your mom like?”

Today, Lu Yunche was meeting Su Hua’s parents.

He had dressed up meticulously to appear more mature and steady.

“For my mom, jewelry or jade would be good.”

Lu Yunche’s head was wrapped up like a steamed bun.

Fortunately, it was winter, so it didn’t attract attention.

Especially with the approach of the New Year, the weather was getting colder.

Although the sun was out today, the snow from two days ago had melted, making it even chillier.

The two of them picked out several items at the mall before heading to Su Hua’s home.

“Oh, you’re here.”

Mother Gu warmly welcomed Su Hua and Lu Yunche inside.

Father Gu sat on the sofa, holding a newspaper with a serious expression.

If he weren’t constantly sneaking glances at the door, he might have been more convincing.

“Mom.”

Su Hua greeted her mother, then called toward the sofa, “Dad.”

Hearing his daughter call him,

Father Gu pretended to have just noticed them.

He put down the newspaper and responded, “Hmm.”

Su Hua knew her father was a proud and stubborn man, so she didn’t mind.

She took Lu Yunche’s arm and walked further inside.

“Dad, Mom, let me introduce my boyfriend, Lu Yunche.”

“Hmm, sit down.”

Once the four of them were seated, the housekeeper brought tea and tactfully withdrew.

“So, Xiao Lu,” Mother Gu began, but she abruptly remembered they already knew everything about her daughter’s boyfriend.

“What do you like to eat? I’ll cook something myself.”

Lu Yunche smiled.

“Thank you, Auntie. I’m not picky.”

Su Hua remained silent. Not picky? You’re the pickiest eater I know.

“Not picky, huh? That’s good. Unlike our Gu Hua, who is very particular about food.”

Mother Gu started to reminisce.

“When she was a child, she often got scolded during health checkups for having an unbalanced diet. It worried us to no end.”

Noticing that his wife was about to launch into a long story, Father Gu quickly interrupted, “Why don’t you go prepare dinner? I’ll chat with Xiao Lu.”

“Fine, then.”

Although slightly annoyed at being interrupted, Mother Gu got up and went to the kitchen.

Once she was gone, Father Gu dropped his façade, his expression turning serious.

“My daughter is a good girl. I don’t expect you to achieve great wealth or success. I only want you to be loyal and treat her well for the rest of your life.”

Su Hua didn’t say a word. Fatherly love runs deep. The original Gu Hua was truly foolish.

Hearing this, Lu Yunche quickly grabbed Su Hua’s hand and earnestly replied, “Uncle, rest assured. In this lifetime, I, Lu Yunche, will never love anyone else.”

For the past 26 years, there had been no other women, and there wouldn’t be any in the future either.

Only her.

His sincerity was evident, and Father Gu, with his decades of experience in the business world, could tell at a glance that he was speaking the truth.

“Hmm.”

Father Gu then asked casually, “Do you play Go?”

“I know a bit.”

Lu YunChe had once acted in a drama related to Go and had taken lessons from a professional teacher.

“But I’m definitely no match for you, Uncle.”

Seeing the two head off to play Go, Su Hua went into the kitchen to cut some fruit.

As they played, Father Gu’s steady and cautious strategy revealed his personality—careful and calculated, quietly setting traps for his opponent.

In contrast, Lu Yunche’s approach appeared impulsive, but was actually a ploy to lull his opponent into a false sense of security before striking decisively.

Father Gu nodded approvingly.

Smart, with a sharp mind.

After half an hour, the game ended.

“I lost.”

Lu Yunche surveyed the board, where his white pieces were overwhelmed, and admitted defeat.

“Your skills are truly remarkable, Uncle.”

Father Gu allowed himself a small moment of pride.

Though a businessman, he had invested considerable effort into mastering Go.

“You’re quite skilled for your age,” he commented.

Having passed this test, Lu Yunche earned another point in Father Gu’s book.

“Dinner’s ready!”

Mother Gu called as she brought out the dishes.

Everything had been prepped in advance, so the meal came together quickly.

“Xiao Lu, come eat.”

Father Gu, who had been left out: “…”

“Go get my special wine,” he instructed Mother Gu.

Knowing her husband intended to test Lu Yunche further, Mother Gu reluctantly retrieved the wine but warned, “Drink in moderation.”

“Do you drink?”

Lu Yunche nodded.

“A little.”

“Let’s have a drink, then.”

Father Gu poured him a glass, and Lu Yunche accepted respectfully.

“Thank you, Uncle.”

What started as a meal turned into a drinking contest, with both men downing glass after glass.

By the end, Father Gu’s face was flushed from his neck to his ears, while Lu Yunche remained composed.

Father Gu pointed at him and chuckled.

“You’re… good. Very good.”

“Oh, must you drink so much?” Mother Gu helped him up.

“You two eat. I’ll take your father to rest.”

By the end of the meal, Mother Gu’s focus was entirely on her drunken husband, leaving little time to chat.

Su Hua smiled.

“Mom, you take care of Dad. We’ll visit again tomorrow.”

“All right.” Mother Gu apologized to Lu Yunche.

“Xiao Lu, I’m sorry.”

“It’s nothing. If anything, it’s my fault for drinking with Uncle.”

Mother Gu smiled, now even more pleased with him.

It was clear her husband had been the instigator.

“It’s not your fault. Drive safely.”

After driving for a while, Lu Yunche leaned his head against the window, struggling to stay upright.

Su Hua pulled over and glanced at him.

“Are you drunk?”

“Not quite, but a little.” The wine Father Gu had brought out was high-proof medicinal liquor.

Even Lu Yunche, a strong drinker, couldn’t entirely handle it.

Her slender fingers pressed against his forehead, cooling the heat radiating from him.

As the warmth subsided, Su Hua tried to pull her hand back, but Lu Yunche caught it.

He brought her delicate fingers—smooth and pale as peeled jade—to his lips, gently sucking and savoring them.

The tender skin glistened with a faint sheen of moisture under the red of his lips…